"A challenging vision"
		Mark Fisher, Chief Executive, SSDA Mark Fisher, Chief Executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency, explains why it's so important for employers to invest in skills. Train to Gain is arguably the single most important service in delivering the ambitions for skills set out by Lord Leitch in his review of the UK's long-term skills needs. Never before have we had a service aimed primarily at upgrading the skills of the UK's current workforce. In his report published last December, Lord Leitch spelled out what it will take to make the UK a world leader in skills by 2020. It is a challenging vision and one which has employers at its heart, working with and through their Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).		This is why the Sector Skills Development Agency, which is responsible for funding, supporting and monitoring the network of 25 SSCs, is so keen for SSCs to support Train to Gain. In return, there is a tremendous opportunity for Skills Brokers to harness the expertise and intelligence of SSCs in order to deliver basic skills programmes that are responsive to employers' needs. The better the Skills Brokers understand the competitive pressures facing the businesses they are asked to help, the better response they will be able to give. This transfer of knowledge will be essential in getting results and driving up England's basic skills levels. Train to Gain establishes a means by which Government can work with employers to provide the economically valuable skills they need in the workplace. However, there are also important social reasons for employers to invest in skills. The potential of the people who work for them and their supply chains will go unrealised without it. Individuals also risk losing the chance to feel good about what they can achieve in their careers, their lives and for their families. Lord Leitch reminded us that as things stand today, more than 70 per cent of our 2020 workforce have already completed their		compulsory education. That's a powerful reason to ensure that they are equipped with the skills they need - and want - to do their job. In addition, it underlines the importance of motivating them further to achieve a higher level of skills than they ever thought possible. The Skills for Business network – comprising the Sector Skills Development Agency and the network of SSCs - looks forward to playing its part in supporting and informing the development of Train to Gain and the skills campaign. I believe that it is the shared responsibility of employers, individuals and Government to develop and deliver world-class skills. It is in all our interests, and as Lord Leitch himself said: "This will be the best investment we could ever make." Mark Fisher Chief Executive Sector Skills Development Agency